KONNE CALLS FOR UNITY AMONG ABA NORTH INDIGENOUS WOMEN, SEEKS SUPPORT FOR 2027 SENATORIAL BID
The All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Abia South Senatorial District, Prince Paul Ikonne, has called for unity and a common front among the Aba North Indigenous Women Leaders Forum, comprising women from the various communities in Aba North Local Government Area.
Prince Ikonne made the call while addressing members of the forum at Osusu Aba Village Hall, Aba, where he highlighted the benefits of operating as a legally recognised and united organisation.
He explained that a properly structured and unified association would be better positioned to attract grants, empowerment programmes and development interventions from NGOs, federal agencies and other relevant institutions, including SMEDAN, the Bank of Industry, the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and international development partners.
He commended the current leadership for sustaining the association despite its challenges and urged members to resolve their differences, dissolve existing factions and elect a new leadership capable of representing the collective interests of Aba North indigenous women.
Speaking on his senatorial ambition, Prince Ikonne said his aspiration was driven by the desire to bring meaningful change and improve the quality of representation in Abia South.
He lamented what he described as two decades of inadequate representation, limited federal projects and poor infrastructure development in the district, promising to change the narrative if elected.
“Like Moses, I have come to lead our people out of 20 years of misrepresentation, poverty of projects and absence of federal presence. Give me your mandate on January 16th, and I will return with results,” he declared.
He assured the women that his representation would prioritise federal interventions, market modernisation, skills acquisition centres for women and youths, and accessible soft loans to support traders and indigenous women.
Earlier, the Chairlady of Eziama Community, Lady Ijeoma Omenazu, alongside other women leaders, commended Prince Paul Ikonne for his consistent support and commitment to the women of Aba North.
They highlighted some of the challenges confronting the association, including the absence of official recognition, inadequate empowerment opportunities and internal divisions.
In a show of solidarity, the Aba North Indigenous Women declared their support for Prince Ikonne’s senatorial aspiration, expressing confidence that his election would attract meaningful development projects to Aba North and the entire Abia South Senatorial District.
“You have our support, our prayers and our votes will be for you, our son, because when our own is there, Aba North will be remembered,” Lady Omenazu declared.
The women also pledged to mobilise support across compounds, villages and communities to secure votes for Prince Paul Ikonne in the forthcoming senatorial election.
